Chula Vista resident Susie Murphy is a full-time teacher in the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
When she isn’t teaching she can be seen riding her mountain bike around the trails in Chula Vista.
Her love for biking has gotten her a position as the executive director of the San Diego Mountain Bike Association beginning Aug. 3.
Murphy, a cyclist for about 20 years, has ridden up the steepest hill and most rugged terrain. But her new job may be as tough as she will be responsible for increasing the association’s membership, working with fundraising and development and getting sponsorships.
But her duties don’t end there. She said there’s an array of tasks that she will be faced with on any given day.
San Diego Mountain Bike Association, an organization formed around 20 years ago with about 800 current members, is dedicated to protecting and promoting mountain bike access in San Diego County.
The group also educates mountain bikers and trail users on how to use trails safely and appropriately. They also advocate for outdoor recreational access throughout San Diego County.
Murphy said her plan to drive more membership is just to have an open line of communication through the media.
“We have to make sure our successes and progress that is made are communicated through our members to the general public,” she said.
Murphy said she has the experience and qualifications to help the association reach new heights.
“I thought the network of people I have and the background that I have in event organizing and volunteer coordination and fundraising should be helpful.”
Murphy has experience dealing with fundraisers at the local school district. She’s also helped Girl Scouts in their efforts and is in charge of fundraising for the Quin Murphy Foundation.
Personally she said she wants to continue the advocacy of the association to deal with trail issues throughout the county, such as the preservation and creation of mountain bike trails.
Just like mountain biking is outdoors, her job will be outdoors.
“The trail is my office,” she said.
Murphy said there is plenty of land in the county that could be converted to new trails for bikers. She said unifying mountain bikers with trail walkers is also key.
She also has a vision to have more trails in her hometown of Chula Vista.
“What a trail can bring to a neighborhood or an area where kids can go and the whole family could go and hang out would be awesome,” she said.
